JP4109390B2 - Vehicle steering member - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure of a steering member that supports steering in a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An instrument panel is provided in the front part of the vehicle interior, and a steering member provided with a steering support for supporting the steering extends in the vehicle body width direction, and both ends thereof are coupled to the vehicle body side wall.
[0003]
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the conventional steering member uses a pipe member 51 having a closed cross section, and attachment brackets 52 for attachment to a vehicle body side wall are welded to both ends thereof.
A steering support 53 is welded and fixed to a portion of the pipe material 51 corresponding to the driver's seat to hold a steering (not shown).
[0004]
Brackets 55 and 56 for attaching various other parts are also welded to the pipe material 51.
The steering member 50 also functions as a vehicle body reinforcing member against external force from the side surface direction.
[0005]
Inside the instrument panel, a main case and a blower case of an air conditioning unit (not shown), a blow duct to a defroster and other air conditioning wind outlets, etc. are installed, and the air conditioning control operation section and the instrument panel itself are installed. Meters and other various electrical switches are provided.
[0006]
Wiring to these various electrical devices around the instrument panel is supported by the steering member 50 as a wire harness in which they are bundled and guided to the wiring destination.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the steering member 50 supports the wire harness by inserting fasteners 61 of a plurality of clips 60 attached at predetermined intervals along the wire harness 40 into holes 57 formed in the pipe material 51. . If necessary, a plurality of plate-like clips 58 are also welded to the pipe material 51, and the wire harness is supported by the pipe material 51 by the clips 58.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional steering member as described above, the steering support 53, the mounting bracket 52, and many other brackets 55, 56 and the clip 58 must be welded to the pipe material 51, which requires man-hours for manufacturing. As a result, the cost increases.
[0008]
Further, since the wire harness 40 wound around the steering member is present on the outer surface of the pipe material 51, not only the steering member 50 but also an occupied space for the wire harness 40 is necessary, and many clips 60 and the like are attached. There is an inconvenience that it must be used.
[0009]
Therefore, in view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering member that has a low manufacturing man-hour and that does not require an occupied space for a wire harness.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the present invention of claim 1 is a steering member that includes a steering support that extends in the vehicle body width direction at the front part of the interior of the vehicle, has both ends coupled to the side wall of the vehicle, and supports the steering wheel. A steering support is provided on the main body portion, and vehicle body attachment portions are formed on both ends of the main body portion, for example, by aluminum die casting, and a plurality of partition walls are formed in the body width direction inside the main body portion. Is provided with a first notch, and the wire harness routed to the on-vehicle electrical device is locked to the first notch of the partition wall and can be held in the main body. The cross section is U-shaped, and a second notch is formed on the upper and lower walls along the opening of the main body so that the branch harness branched from the wire harness can be pulled out of the main body. The predetermined range including the steering support corresponding to the driver's seat of the main body has a cross section larger than the others and forms a highly rigid portion, and the wire harness is formed from a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction. The diameter of the wire bundle decreases as it branches from one end side to the other end side, and the large diameter portion of the wire harness is arranged corresponding to the portion corresponding to the high-rigidity portion of the steering member. The first notch and the second notch on the upper wall and the lower wall have a notch size that decreases as the shift from the high-rigidity portion on one end side to the other end side of the steering member.
[0011]
Thereby, since the steering member is formed integrally with the steering support and the vehicle body mounting portion, a process such as welding is not required, and it can be manufactured at a low cost in a short time.
Moreover, since the wire harness is disposed in the steering member, an occupied space for the wire harness is not required in a narrow place such as an instrument panel where the steering member is installed.
Further, since the high rigidity portion is formed, high support rigidity of the steering via the steering support can be obtained.
[0012]
Here, it is preferable that a presser piece for regulating the path of the branch harness is attached to the second cutout by integral molding. In addition, the presser piece may rise from one edge of the second cutout and be offset outward and extend onto the cutout.
[0013]
Thereby, a branch harness is each pulled out from a predetermined position, and recognition becomes easy.
In addition, since the path of the branch harness is regulated by providing the presser piece, the branch harness is held so as not to easily come off from the second notch, and the wire harness is also securely held in the main body of the steering member. Is done.
In particular, the cross-section of the main body is U-shaped, and the second cutouts are formed in the upper and lower walls sandwiching the opening, whereby each branch harness can be pulled out in both the upper and lower directions according to the wiring destination.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of an embodiment steering member. The steering member 10 is manufactured by aluminum die casting, and the main body 11 has a U-shaped cross section that opens toward the front of the vehicle body.
[0016]
A vehicle body attachment portion 20 for attachment to a vehicle body side wall (not shown) is formed at both ends of the main body portion 11. The vehicle body attachment portion 20 includes an attachment surface 21 that contacts the attachment portion of the vehicle body side wall, and the attachment surface 21 is provided with a bolt hole 22.
A partition wall 16 connected to the vertical wall 13, the upper wall 14, and the lower wall 15 is provided at appropriate intervals over the entire length of the main body 11 to prevent the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 from opening.
In addition, bracket parts 24 and 25 for attaching various components are integrally formed at appropriate portions.
[0017]
The right portion of the main body 11 corresponding to the driver's seat has a cross-sectional height set larger than that of the other portions, and forms a highly rigid portion 12. A steering support 18 is provided integrally with the high rigidity portion 12. A hole 19 provided in the steering support 18 is a bolt hole for fixing a bracket (not shown) on the steering side.
[0018]
Cutouts 30, 31, and 32 are formed in the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 of the main body 11 and the partition walls 16. The size of the notch 32 of the partition wall 16 gradually decreases as the steering support 18 moves from the right side to the left side.
Similarly, the cutouts 30 and 31 of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 are gradually reduced in size as they move from the right side to the left side.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the notch 30 of the upper wall 14 is provided with a presser piece 35 that rises from one edge and is offset outward. In addition, the notch 31 of the lower wall 15 is similarly provided with a presser piece 35 that rises from one edge and is offset outward, except for the notch 31a at the rightmost end.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a state in which a wire harness is supported on the steering member 10.
The steering member 10 is attached to the vehicle body in a state where the wire harness 40 is sub-assembled. The wire harness 40 is disposed in the main body 11 from the opening 17 (see FIG. 4) facing forward.
Here, the wire harness 40 refers to a trunk bundle that is a branching source of a branch harness 45 described later.
[0021]
A fuse box 42 is supported by a bracket 41 attached to the vehicle body member, and the wire harness 40 passes through the rightmost notch 31a of the lower wall 15 from the fuse box 42, that is, the main body 11 of the steering member 10, that is, a U-shaped cross section. Led inside.
[0022]
In the steering member 10, the wire harness 40 extends to the left through the notch 32 of each partition wall 16. The wire harness 40 branches from a plurality of locations in the middle in the longitudinal direction, and the thickness, that is, the diameter of the wiring bundle gradually decreases with each branch. The notch 32 of each partition wall 16 is preferably set to have a notch width S (see FIG. 4) so that the wire harness 40 is slightly squeezed. Thus, the size of the notch 32 is gradually reduced as described above.
[0023]
A bundle of wires or a single wire (hereinafter referred to as a branch harness) 45 branched from the middle is drawn out of the steering member 10 from the notches 30 and 31 of the upper wall 14 or the lower wall 15.
Since the diameter of the branch harness 45 is often larger at a portion closer to the fuse box 42, the notch widths of the notches 30 and 31 of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 are increased in the high-rigidity portion 12. The size is made smaller on the left side, and the size is gradually changed as described above.
[0024]
When the branch harness 45 is pulled out from the cutouts 30 and 31 of the upper wall 14 or the lower wall 15, the presser piece 35 is attached to the cutouts 30 and 31. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The path of the branch harness 45 is regulated by 35.
As a result, the branch harness 45 is held from the notches 30 and 31 of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 so as not to easily come off as a result of being regulated by the pressing piece 35 without extending in a disordered direction from the wire harness 40. Therefore, conversely, the wire harness 40 also acts in a direction to be held in the main body 11.
[0025]
Therefore, as described above, it is preferable that the notch 32 of each partition wall 16 is set so that the wire harness 40 is slightly squeezed. However, even when the size of the notch 32 of the partition wall is larger than the wire harness 40 and there is play. Also, the wire harness 40 is securely held in the main body 11.
[0026]
The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the entire steering member 10 is made of aluminum die cast, and the vehicle body mounting portion 20, the steering support 18, the other bracket portions 24, 25, and the like are integrally formed. This process is unnecessary and can be manufactured in a short time at low cost.
A plurality of partition walls 16 are provided in the main body 11 to increase the opening rigidity of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15.
[0027]
And since the notch width is set to such an extent that the notch 32 formed in the partition wall 16 slightly tightens the wire harness 40, the wire harness 40 is securely held in the steering member. And the occupation space for the wire harness 40 outside a steering member becomes unnecessary.
Note that the wire harness 40 does not need to be tightened by the notches 32 in all the partition walls through which the wire harness passes, and if there is a slight tightening allowance at a plurality of locations, the wire harness 40 is sufficiently held even if it is loose at other partition portions. The
[0028]
Further, the main body 11 has a U-shaped cross section, the notches 30 and 31 are formed in the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 of the main body, the wire harness 40 is disposed in the main body 11, and the branch harness 45 is cut. Since the branch harness is pulled out to the outside, the branch harnesses are pulled out from the respective predetermined positions, so that the recognition becomes easy.
[0029]
Further, since the presser piece 35 is integrally attached to the notches 30 and 31 for drawing out the branch harness 45 so as to regulate the path of the branch harness, the branch harness 45 is notched in the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15. Of course, the wire harness 40 itself is held in the main body 11 of the steering member more reliably in addition to being held by the notch 32 of the partition wall 16. .
[0030]
In the steering member of the embodiment, the main body portion is opened forward, but the opening direction can be appropriately set in consideration of the relationship with other components in the instrument panel and the wiring assembly property. .
Further, the cross-sectional shape of the main body 11 is not limited to the U-shape, and any shape can be adopted as long as the main body 11 has an opening extending in the lateral (left / right) direction and the wire harness can be disposed in the main body from the opening. Can do.
[0031]
In addition, although it made from the aluminum die-casting in the Example, it is not limited to this, As long as it can support steering with rigidity, appropriate materials, such as a magnesium alloy, can be used, for example.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the steering support is integrally formed on the main body portion having the opening cross section and the vehicle body attachment portions are integrally formed on both ends of the main body portion, a process such as welding is unnecessary, and the cost is low. It has the effect that it can be manufactured in a short time.
[0033]
In addition, a plurality of partition walls are formed in the body width direction inside the main body, and the partition wall is provided with a first cutout, and the wire harness routed to the on-vehicle electrical device is connected to the first partition wall. Since the wire harness is disposed in the steering member by being locked in the notch and being able to be held in the main body, the wire harness is installed in a narrow place such as an instrument panel where the steering member is installed. The effect that an occupied space becomes unnecessary is acquired.
[0034]
Furthermore, by forming a second cutout on the wall along the opening of the main body that allows the branch harness that branches off from the wire harness to be pulled out of the main body, each branch harness is pulled out from a predetermined position and recognized. Becomes easy.
Further, by attaching a presser piece for restricting the path of the branch harness to the second cutout by integral molding, the branch harness is held so as not to easily come off from the second cutout, and the wire harness is also steered. It is securely held in the main body of the member.
[0035]
In particular, by making the cross section of the main body portion U-shaped and forming the second notch on the upper wall and the lower wall sandwiching the opening, each branch harness can be pulled out in both the upper and lower directions according to the wiring destination.
[0036]
Furthermore, by forming a high rigidity portion with a predetermined range including the steering support corresponding to the driver's seat of the main body as a cross section larger than the others, high support rigidity of the steering via the steering support can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of a cutout portion of an upper wall and a lower wall.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a wire harness is supported on a steering member.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a path of a branch harness at a notch.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a support example of a wire harness in a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Steering member 11 Main body part 12 High-rigidity part 13 Vertical wall 14 Upper wall 15 Lower wall 16 Partition 17 Opening 18 Steering support 20 Car body mounting part 21 Mounting surface 24, 25 Bracket part 30, 31 Notch (second notch)
32 Notch (first notch)
35 Presser piece 40 Wire harness 41 Bracket 42 Fuse box 45 Branch harness 50 Steering member 51 Pipe material 52 Mounting bracket 53 Steering support 55, 56 Brackets 57 Hole 58 Plate-like clip 60 Clip 61 Fastener

Claims (4)

A steering member (10) having a steering support (18) that extends in the vehicle body width direction at the front part of the vehicle interior and that has both ends coupled to the side wall of the vehicle and supports the steering, and has a body section (11 ) And the vehicle body mounting portion (20) are integrally molded on both ends of the main body portion,
A plurality of partition walls (16) are formed in the vehicle body width direction inside the main body (11), and the partition wall is provided with a first notch (32), which is routed to an in-vehicle electrical device. The wire harness (40) is locked to the first notch of the partition wall and can be held in the main body portion,
The main body (11) has a U-shaped cross-section, and a branch harness that branches from the wire harness to the upper wall (14) and the lower wall (15) along the opening (17) of the main body (11) ( 45) is formed with a second notch (30, 31) that can be pulled out of the main body,
The predetermined range including the steering support (18) corresponding to the driver's seat of the main body (11) has a larger cross section than the others, and forms a highly rigid portion (12).
In the wire harness (40), the diameter of the wire bundle decreases as it branches from a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction and moves from one end side to the other end side, and the large diameter portion of the wire harness is connected to the steering member. (10) arranged corresponding to the portion corresponding to the high-rigidity portion (12),
The first cutout (32) of the partition wall (16) and the second cutouts (30, 31) of the upper wall (14) and the lower wall (15) are the high rigidity portion (12 ) To the other end side, the notch size becomes smaller , the steering member characterized by the above-mentioned. The steering member according to claim 1, wherein the second notch (30, 31) is provided with a pressing piece (35) for restricting the path of the branch harness (45) by integral molding . The steering member according to claim 2, characterized in that the presser piece (35) rises from one edge of the second cutout (30, 31) and is offset outwardly and extends onto the cutout. . The steering member according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the integral molding is performed by aluminum die casting .

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